# NTSB DFW05LA009: Cessna 150L, N6870G, Denton, TX, October 19, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 19, 2004, 17:16 local (22:16 UTC) - Place: Denton, TX - Coordinates: 33.200553, -97.197776 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2006&lon=-97.1978&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminsitration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60404 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60404/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA009 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to the separation of the accessory drive gear bolts, and the failure of the starter-clutch assembly. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - accessory drive assy,drive gear - separation (cause) - engine accessories,engine starter - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The 2,292-hour flight instructor reported that after takeoff, the engine lost power. After initiating a forced landing to a field, the left wing impacted a tree during landing roll and the airplane came to rest upright. Review of the engine logbooks revealed that the starter clutch assembly was replaced twice within 15.64 hours. Examination of the engine revealed that the starter-clutch assembly would not rotate freely, and the starter-clutch shaft was severed into two pieces. The bolts that attach the accessory drive-gear to the camshaft were also severed. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 2004, at 1716 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L single-engine airplane, N6870G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a reported loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb from the Denton Municipal Airport, near Denton, Texas. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight originated at 1700. The 2,292-hour flight instructor reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that after completing four touch-and-go landings, "the engine lost power," approximately 300 feet above ground level (agl) at the departure end of runway 17. The flight instructor initiated a forced landing to a field, approximately 1,000 feet from the airport property. Subsequently, the left wing of the airplane impacted a tree as the airplane came to rest upright. Examination of the airplane by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that both wings were bent, and the empennage aft of the cabin area was bent approximately 90 degrees to the left. Review of the airplane maintenance records revealed the airplane completed its most recent annual inspection on October 14, 2004, with an engine time of 1,414.87 hours since major overhaul. At the time of the accident, the engine had accumulated 1,775.94 hours since the major overhaul, with an engine total time of 5,357.04 hours. A log book entry dated July 29, 2004, stated that the "starter was replaced with an overhauled unit and that the starter clutch was replaced with a serviceable unit," at an engine total time of 5,341.4 hours and 1,760.3 hours since major overhaul. After 7.7 hours of flight, the starter-clutch assembly was replaced again on August 27, 2004. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated 7.94 hours of flight since the second replacement of the starter-clutch assembly. The Continental O-200-A engine was examined on November 3, 2004, by a representative from Teledyne Continental Motors, an FAA inspector, and the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC). The examination revealed the starter-clutch assembly would not rotate freely. The starter-clutch shaft was severed into two pieces, and the bolts that attach the accessory drive-gear to the camshaft were also severed. On November 4, 2004, a representative from Teledyne Continental Motors, under the supervision of the NTSB, examined the starter-clutch assembly at the facilities of Air Salvage of Dallas, near Lancaster, Texas. After disassembly of the clutch assembly, it was noted that the clutch rollers were shifted sideways, and two of the rollers were fused to the starter-clutch drive-shaft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6870G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6870G-2006-11-01), registration cancelled 2006-11-01, S/N 15072370, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150L - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15072370 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dee Ann Wakefield - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 2003, 361.07 hours before - Departed: Denton, TX - Airport: DTO, Denton Municipal Airport, runway 17, 5,999 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 8, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 2,292 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 2,245 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: none ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: DTO, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20041019035099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041019035099A), Oct 19, 2004: Cessna 150L, Denton, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 19, 2004, N6870G, a Cessna CE-150-L aircraft operated by the pilot [privacy data omitted] departed Denton airport, Denton Texas on an… ## Other investigations on N6870G (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB FTW75DPA07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75DPA07), Jul 7, 1974: Cessna 150L (N6870G), Addison, TX, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.